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CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED. 



AND HIS RIGHT 



WMWWM MfB TiifM^ATOTC 



BEING THE SUBSTANCE OF 



A SERMON 



PREACHED FROM 



Job, xxxiv. 6. — "Should I lie against my right? 93 



BY JAMES OSBOURN, V. D. M. 

Author of "Good Things Aimed at, or Divine Truths Touched on?' 
"Be instant in season, out of season."— Paul, 



BALTIMORE: 
PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR, 

BENJAMIN EDES, PRINTER. 

1820. 



Zl 



®®iDa(SiMpa®p<; 



TO THE MEMBERS OF THE 
THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BALTIMORE. 

Beloved in the Lord! Grace, mercy and peace be with you all. Amest. 

You are here presented with a small treatise, being 
the substance of a sermon which I some months ago 
delivered" from the pulpit in your hearing. How 
much truth there ia in it, and how well many parts of 
it may agree with Christian experience, I shall leave 
y ou to decide. I know however, it is truth which 
God will own and honour, and not error though it be 
embellished with the pomp of diction. 

Beloved, I sincerely wish that the Lord may bless 
the reading of this sermon to your souls; as my end in 
writing and publishing the same will then be answered. 

I think I can say with the apostle Paul, / seek not 
yours but you. And it does me good to find you walk- 
ing in truth, and in love one to another. Continue 
so to do my beloved, and the God of peace be with 
you. You see and hear what broils and commotions 
there are in churches hither and thither. And 0! 
that you may learn from these things the sterling va- 
lue of gospel harmony, peace and love, among jour- 
selves. 

Pride is the door by which this train of evils creep 
in at; nor need we go far to prove this melancholy 



IV 

fact. Watch against pride brethren; bear your testi- 
mony against it; yea, wage war with it, and oppose it 
wherever you see it; and may God grant you success. 
Consider your near relation to Christ the great head 
of the church, and your elder brother who was born 
for adversity. Humility was a very prominent trait 
in his character; and believe me when I say, humility 
is the bright ornament of every station in life; and 
how ought it to shine in the followers of the Lamb of 
God? A child-like spirit, meek and well weaned from 
the world, and its fascinating charms, is, in my opin- 
ion, a good symptom of a gracious heart. The heart 
of man is naturally haughty, and when this feature 
subsides, and humility succeeds it, we are lead to ad- 
mire the change. It must be admitted, however, that 
this change may be produced by something short of 
special grace. But if this change be effected, and the 
mind, which before was altogether worldly and car- 
nal, is drawn out to God; then it is that we are war- 
ranted to bring in a favourable verdict. Pray to be 
kept humble, and in the fear of God, my beloved; 
and when in trouble, patiently hope and wait till God 
sees fit to bring you out, as he did Job. God's time 
is always the best time, whether we know it or not. 
Believe this brethren, and act accordingly. 

Again.- — If you would be kept in a right frame of 
mind in the hour of trial, you ought first to wrestle 
with God in prayer. And if he sees fit to exercise 
you with long and sore afflictions, you may depend 
on him, that as your days, so your strength shall 
be. And often is it seen, that he makes the issue 



of our trials much better than our fears suggested. 
Was it not so, I ask, in the case of Job? If God 
seems deaf to your prayers when in the greatest dis- 
tress, be not discouraged; he may, and he often does 
stand behind our wall to exercise our patience, and to 
call for our importunity in prayer. If you are cast 
into asea of afflictions, as Job was, you may venture, 
though with a trembling heart, to claim the Lord as 
your God, as your Saviour. And encouraged you 
most assuredly are, with fervent cries, and humble 
expostulations to pour out your complaints into his 
bosom. 

Endeavour, beloved, to live in continual fellowship 
with Christ, who is our life — and in strains of sub- 
lime adoration, extol this Great Ancient of days/ And 
as you are admitted to tlie true fold, in songs ever 
fresh, publish the glories of his grace, and the won- 
ders of his redeeming love, mercy, power, holiness 
and majesty. Yea, rejoice that his kingdom has 
been, is now, and will be established in the world; 
and that the day is coming when Satan shall be bound, 
and all the kingdoms on earth subjected to the righte- 
ous and merciful government of our Redeemer, Pro- 
phet, Priest, King, and God. 

Beloved, as it. is not my intention to eat the bread 
of idleness, as too many do, you may expect another 
visit from me by the time you have read and properly 
di gested this; as all things are now ready, or nearly 
so. And until then, grace and peace be multiplied 
unto you through Jesus Christ our Lord. — Amen. 

J. O. 

Baltimore, September, 1820. 
A 2 



A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

AND HIS RIGHT 

"Should I lie against my right," — Job, xxxiv. 6. 



Job in his day was certainly a very singular char- 
acter, so much so, that there was none like him in 
the earth according to the Lord's account of him. 
"Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there 
is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an up- 
right man, one that feareth God, and escheweth 
evil?"— Job, i. 8. Although this was Job's char- 
acter, he was not exempt from trouble, but met 
with it in great abundance, How afflicting was 
his situation, when the reproaches of men, and 
the frowns of God met upon him; and with what 
keen regret did he look back on the days of his 
prosperity, when he abounded in wealth, in pop- 
ularity, and enjoyed the esteem and friendship of 
all around him! Had he not been taught that hu- 
man life, with all its vicissitudes, crosses and com- 
forts, is bounded by the wise decree of God, he 
would have sunk into despair, instead of saying 
"though he slay me, yet will I trust in him." 

When in prosperity, he was courted, extolled, 
admired, caressed and almost worshipped by all 
classes of men. But when adversity overtook him, 
he was forsaken by them. Even his servants treat- 
ed him with scorn, and he was as one mocked of his 



S A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

neighbour. The few who pretended to be his 
friends, and who came to condole with him, did 
not understand his case but treated him as a hy- 
pocrite; therefore he might well say of them Mis- 
erable comforters are ye all. Young Elihu, among 
the rest, accused him of charging God with injus- 
tice, by saying "For Job hath said, I am right- 
eous, and God hath taken away my judgment; 
should 1 lie against my right?" But whether he 
ever said this, we have no further proof than Eli- 
hu's saying so. But as it is generally thought 
Moses wrote this book, we must conclude the sa- 
cred penman was acquainted with the fact; and if 
he did, it goes to show that he was resolved, not- 
withstanding all the heavy charges, and base as- 
persions heaped upon him by pretended friends, to 
maintain his integrity, and not lie against what he 
believed to be his right. 

I think there can be no manner of doubt what- 
ever, but that Job was, in many instances, wrong- 
fully accused by men who were strangers to that 
deep distress into which he was plunged. - Not 
that we can admit his misery to be an excuse for 
him wherein he acted wrong, and said what he 
ought not. xind true enough it is, that he, when 
in the depth of trouble and anguish of soul, said 
many perverse things; and the best of us, if left to 
ourselves may, nay, we shall fall into the greatest 
folly and guilt; become mad in our wishes, and 
unthankful to God; and it is equally as true, that 
Job w r as the subject of Satan's malice and rage, 
but it is admirable to see with what precision the 
limits of his malice were marked by an infinite God. 

Divine sovereignty, ever wise and ever just, 
hath fixed the time, means and manner of correct- 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 9 

ing the children of men; afflictions are not sent in 
vain, nor yet at random, but to answer some wise 
design of him who sends them. And this was, 
no doubt, the end God had in view in trying Job 
as he did. Nor was it right by any means for 
him to complain and murmur as he did at times. 
To quarrel with the life which God bestows, is to 
sin against our own mercies. Fretfulness and 
impatience at our lot can only aggravate our suf- 
ferings; and to reflect on providence, is to accuse 
God, and to charge him with want of wisdom; and 
it is quite Atheistical to think that any thing hap- 
pens to us by chance; Job himself, who at times 
found so much fault with God's dealings with him 
in providence could, and did say once, *< Affliction 
cometh not forth of the dust, neither doth trouble 
spring out of the ground." — Job, v. 6. And that 
which renders our complaining under troubles and 
afflictions inexcusable is, we have not only a God 
of deep counsels and unsearchable perfections to 
deal with, but, in providence, have a mixture of 
undeserved mercy in the most severe afflictions 
we meet with by the way. 

The biography of Job is calculated to produce 
a medley of feelings in the breast of every atten- 
tive reader. Permit me, my brethren, to run over, 
in order, the ground which this Eastern sage trod. 

We first behold him in affluent circumstances^ 
surrounded on every hand with creature comforts. 
Ten children, like olive plants, were round about 
his table, and men and maid servants in great 
abundance. On his plantation he had seven 
thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hun- 
dred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses; 
and to crown all, he was in possession of true 



1Q A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

peace and the fear of God. Thus lived in the 
land of Ur, the greatest man of all the men of 
the East, and his name was Job. 

We next behold this pious man devoutly offer- 
ing up to his God ^burnt offerings according to 
the number of his children," and Satan violently 
opposing him in this good work. And a very 
restless - spirit he manifested until he saw the 
crown of greatness fall from the head of Job. 
While on the pinnacle of fame we find the aged 
and the youth, the princes and the nobles, unani- 
mously agreeing to pay him all that deference 
which his rank called for. We are told "the 
aged arose and stood up;" I suppose to do him 
revereace; "the youth blushed when before hih*; 
the princes refrained from talking, and laid their 
hand on their mouth/ 5 when in his company; "the 
nobles held their peace, .and their tongue cleaved 
to the roof of their mouth/' when occasion requir- 
ed for Job to speak. 

But OJ how short-lived are creature comforts 
and worldly greatness, my brethren; they die 
as soon as born, and go out like a torch at noon; 
and so here, in one moment, as it were, we with 
amazement behold a man of God sinking! sink- 
ing into the most abject state, and soon became as 
wretched as before he was opulent. By a power- 
ful east wind his eldest son's house sustained so 
tremendous a concussion, that it fell, and great was 
the fall thereof, for in the ruins were his sons and 
daughters buried. His five hundred she asses, 
and his five hundred yoke of oxen were stolen, 
and his servants slain by the Sabeans. His sev- 
en thousand sheep were all burnt to death by the 
fire of God, which fell from heaven, and his three 




AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. H 

thousand camels were carried away by the Chal- 
deans; and notwithstanding all this, we hear the 
pious man say, "Naked came I out of my mo- 
ther's womb, and naked shall I return thither; the 
Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, bless- 
ed be the name of the Lord." 

But that we might know that Job was a man of 
like passions with us, and when left to himself 
his lips would utter perverseness, we next hear 
him in the bitterness of his soul thus exclaim, "Let 
the day perish wherein I was born, and the night 
in which it was said, there is a man child con- 
ceived/ 5 &c. 

In this distressed state, those who had been 
his familiars, forsook him and fled, forgetting 
that "to him who is afflicted, pity should be shew- 
ed from his friend." Here again we hear him 
thus complain, "My. brethren have dealt deceit- 
fully as a brook, and as the streams of brooks 
they pass away; my kinsfolk have failed, and my 
familiar friends have forgotten me; they that 
dwell in mine house, and my maids, count me for 
a stranger; I am an alien in their sight." 

At last we find God turned again the captivity 
of Job and gave him twice as much as he had be- 
fore. So the Lord blessed the latter end of Job 
more than the beginning; and in peace he died, 
being old and full of days; and his immortal part, 
which God took special care of through all his 
troubles, and dislodged it at last from the tene- 
ment of cumbersome clay, is now in undisturbed 
repose, covered with immortal glof-y, and so will 
remain through vast eternity. 

I will now proceed, by divine assistance, to of- 
fer you my thoughts on the passage, in the man- 
ner and order following, viz: — 



X2 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

First. I will describe a Christian. 

Secondly. Endeavour to prove his right, and 
vindicate it. 

Thirdly. Show the ground on which his right 
is founded. 

Fourthly. Speak particularly to the question, 
"Should 1 lie against my right?" 

First. A Christian, in the genuine sense of the 
word, is one who has been delivered from the 
power of darkness, and translated into the king- 
dom of God's dear Son. He is one who, by a 
special act of sovereign grace, has passed from 
death unto life; and now loves the brethren, and 
God who first loved him. His heart is right with 
God, having undergone a radical change. In his 
heart Christ is formed the hope of glory. Sin, 
and the service of Satan he now hates, while to 
Jesus he cleaves, with full purpose of heart. He 
flies from the law as a covenant of works, and 
builds his hope of life and salvation on Jesus 
Christ, the rock of eternal ages. He comes out 
from the world, separates himself from his former 
wicked companions, and joins with the house- 
bold of faith. Of Christ, he speaks in the most 
exalted terms; and of himself as the chief of sin- 
ners. His own righteousness he views as filthy 
rags; yea, as dung and dross 9 while the righte- 
ousness of his Saviour is his boast, and of it he 
makes honourable mention all the day long. He 
is sensible of his own weakness and insufficiency; 
he therefore looks, by faith, to Jesus, who is his 
wisdom and strength. He is in love with truth, 
and closely adheres to it. He takes it for his 
shield and buckler, for he kuows it was by the 
truth he was made free. 



AiND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 13 

Again — a true Christian is a spiritual soldier; 
and as he has enlisted in the best of causes, he is 
willing to endure hardship, and fight manfully 
under the banner of Jesus, his king and captain. 
He, in the strength of his glorious king, wages 
war against his old master, the Devil; against the 
world, sin, and the corruptions of his own wicked 
heart; and he fondly hopes, (and on a good foun- 
dation too) that victory will declare herself on his 
side, to the everlasting honour of his captain. His 
struggles, however, are at times great; and victo- 
ry, notwithstanding his courage, and soldier-like 
boldness, frequently seems to hang in doubtful 
scale. In the heat of this contest he endeavours 
to keep his eye fixed on his captain; watches close- 
ly all his motions; attends to his commands; and 
endeavours to follow where he leads. If at any 
time he loses sight of his leader, and cannot bear 
his voice, he begins to think his case desperate, 
and wonders where the scene will end; his foes 
now fiercely assault him on every side. The en- 
emy well knowing the situation he is in, and the 
trembling that is come upon him, call up all their 
reinforcements, and exert all their power, while 
they become truly outrageous; the Christian see- 
ing their movements, knowing well their object, 
and being sensible that he cannot help himself, to 
go back would be disloyal, to stand still dangerous, 
to go forward and meet the enemy, without his 
commanding officer, would be hazardous and pre- 
sumptuous in the extreme; and, in fact, impracti- 
cable. Finding, therefore, no alternative but that 
of crying aloud for aid from his Lord and Mas- 
ter, he cries out, "Lord save, or I "perish!" The 
Lord, who all this time had his eye fixed on him, 
B 






14 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBE, 

beholds his situation, hears his cry, flies to his 
relief, scatters his enemies, makes his path streight, 
and gives him fresh strength to pursue his jour- 
ney. The Christian then goes on his way re- 
joicing in his God, and on his way sings this 
song, "I will trust and not be afraid, for the Lord 
Jehovah is my strength, and my song, he also is 
become my salvation." 

Again — as he is a Christian, and a Christian 
soldier too, he is considered a proper mark for all 
the enemies of righteousness to shoot at; he there- 
fore becomes the butt of their rage and fury; and 
as they are levelling their artillery at the green tree 
under the shadow of which the Christian is come 
to trust, so will they also at the dry tree, and en- 
deavor to destroy him root and branch; and many 
encounters will he have with them, but over them 
all he at last shall be made a conqueror. But he 
will have constantly to look to his divine leader 
and helper, and to put his whole trust in him. To 
prove that he is not of the world, he will come out 
from it, stamp vanity on all its vain charms, and 
seek to live a life of faith on the Son of God. As 
a Christian, he will delight to set at the feet of Je- 
sus, and learn of him. He will rejoice when in 
his presence, and sadly mourn when he is absent. 
He will endeavour to walk humbly with his God, 
and circumspectly before him^ like the Apostle, 
he will strive to keep a conscience void of offence 
toward God, and toward man. He will acknow- 
ledge Christ to be his best friend, and only sa- 
viour, and show his attachment to him by follow- 
ing him wherever he leads. 

Again, a Christian is an object of immortal 
love; a partaker of divine grace; an heir of God 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 15 

in union with Christ the living vine, under the tu- 
ition of the Holy Ghost, clothed with the best robe. 
A fellow citizen with the saints; with them his 
name is enroled in the book of life, and heaven is 
waiting for his triumphant arrival, when angels 
will welcome him home with shouts of loud ap- 
plause! A foretaste of these tilings makes him 
long to be there, and crucifies him to this world; 
yet he is willing to wait the good pleasure of his 
God, and endure hardships as a good soldier of 
Jesus Christ, for he knows his trials must be 
short, though they may be fierce and sharp, but 
heaven will make amends for all. 

Once more — a Christian is a wise man, being 
influenced by that wisdom which cometh from 
above. He knows himself; he knows God through 
Jesus the Son; he knows the truth, and loves it; 
he knows the worth of his immortal soul, and that 
sin is calculated to destroy it, therefore he shuns 
it as he would the deadliest poison; he knows that 
afflictions, painful as they are, or may be, are all 
working together for his good; and his sufferings 
for Christ here will but render him more like his 
Divine Master, and endear him more and more 
unto him, so that he is not unwilling to suffer for 
Christ's sake; consequently he knows the value of 
Christ, and esteems him the altogether lovely* 
and is for a special application of him to himself, 
As he is desirous of knowing more of Christ under 
the consideration of a Saviour, so also is he free 
to owu him as a Lord, and as his owa sovereign 
Lord in particular. He is also a fearful man, (not 
in the sense the wicked are, for they are aft aid, 
and flee when none pursueth) he is afraid to sin, 
knowing it is hateful in the sight, of him: whom bis 






16 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

soul loveth; therefore he often says within himself, 
** How shall I do this great evil, and sin against 
God?" He is afraid of the world, knowing that 
it is full of sins and snares very alarming, and em- 
inently calculated to divert the mind and lead it 
away from God the chief good. He well knows 
it always was, and ever will be unfriendly to the 
subject of Divine Grace; therefore he endeavors 
as much as in him lies, to live as retired from it 
as possible, to taste not, handle not, and touch not, 
more than is absolutely necessary f of his easy and 
honourable passage through it. He is likewise 
afraid of himself, having been taught, by the un- 
erring spirit of truth, that his heart is not to be 
trusted, "if is deceitful above all things, and des- 
perately wicked," so that he cannot direct his own 
steps, neither of himself flunk a good thought, 
much less do a good act. Hence he frequent- 
ly cries out, u O! wretched man that I am, who 
shall deliver me from the body of this death?" He 
is also afraid of error, knowing that it is very in- 
sinuating; smooth and gentle in its approach; very 
flattering to proud human nature; always speaking 
peace, .and good things to it; for error is the 
production of human wisdom, and always 
stands opposed to sovereign, free, discriminating 
grace. The Christian, therefore, endeavours to 
shun it under all its gaudy trappings, and he ear- 
nestly prays to be preserved continually from the 
infatuating smiles and approaches of error. 

The Christian is also an humble man, he wishes 
to be kept low in the vale of humility, knowing 
that humility is the direct road to honour, not 
worldly honour, but that which cometh from God, 
heavenly honour; and he knows that the space 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 17 

between humility and pride is -much narrower than 
most men are aware of, and this he can clearly 
see in many persons, who, because they are not 
humble, are lifted up with pride, and are known 
afar off by the Lord; but he dwelleth with the 
humble. 

Again — the Christian is a praying man, prayer 
is the breath of his soul. As a man cannot live 
without breathing, so a Christian cannot live with- 
out prayer* Without prayer he would stand as 
a cypher in the camp of Israel; for if he could not 
pray, he could not fight, therefore he would not 
be of any use there. Prayer is as a maul on the 
head of his enemy, and as a mill-stone tied round 
the neck of his lusts; nor does he go to prayer as 
an ox goeth to the yoke, but he goes with plea- 
sure and delight; it is his meat and drink, the very 
element in which he delights to dwell, therefore 
he goes again and again, and the more he fre- 
quents the throne of grace, the more he wants to 
be there. The spirit also helps his infirmities, 
and indites his petitions, so that it may truly be 
said, he prays with the spirit and with the under- 
standing also; it is by prayer he makes all his 
requests known to God; when under afflictions, 
temptations, and sore trials, he gives himself unto 
prayer, and cries mightily to God; to God he 
goes with all his grievances, and looks to him for 
redress, knowing that none but God can deliver 
him out of his distress, so that if God heap trials 
and afflictions upon him, he will heap prayer upon 
God, and lay all his complaints before him, while 
he fondly hopes to prove successful in the end. 
"And shall not God avenge his own elect, which 
cry day and night unto him, though he bear long 
b % 



18 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

with them? I tell you that he will avenge them 
speedily." — Luke, xviii. 7. 8. But he not only 
prays for himself, but recollecting the hole of the 
pit from which he was digged, he feels for those 
who are in the same situation in which he once 
was; he, therefore, prays for sinners, that the God 
of all grace, who brought again from the dead 
our Lord Jesus Christ, would be graciously 
pleased to turn them from the error of their ways 
unto the wisdom of the just. But in an especial 
manner does he feel engaged for. the Israel of 
God, Zion's welfare lies near his heart, there- 
fore he is prompted to pray for her prosperity and 
enlargement; he rejoices when he sees her cords 
lengthened, her stakes strengthened, and her cur- 
tains stretched forth. "Rejoice with Jerusalem, 
and be glad with her, all ye that love her; re- 
joice with joy for her, all ye that mourn for her/* — 
Isa. Ixvi. 10. Zion is the place of his abode; 
the saints are his companions, and the objects of 
his delight; he would sooner his right hand should 
forget its cunning than he should forget Jerusa- 
lem; or his tongue cleave to the roof of his mouth, 
than cease to pray for the household of faith. 

Again — a Christian is an obedient man; he 
obeys from the heart, and looks upon the perfor- 
mance of duty as a recreation rather than a task; 
and answers as cheerfully to that call as if he were 
bid to eat or drink, for he knows God does not 
approve of sadness in spiritual sacrifices, by his 
forbidding leaven under the law; and that he lov- 
eth cheerfulness in worship, by his requiring wine 
and oil. He also obeys with reverence and holy 
fear, and yet with great speed. He runs in the 
way of God's commands; makes haste, and de- 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 19 

lays not; if God says, "seek ye my face," his 
heart immediately replies, "thy face Lord will I 
seek." His ohedience also proceeds from a spirit 
of Evangelical faith, and hence his obedience is 
the obedience of faith, In the performance of du- 
ty lie endeavours to be very exact, regarding eve- 
ry circumstance, however small, as well as the 
more substantial parts thereof. In short, to do 
the will of his divine Lord and Master is his 
meat and drink; not that he can feed on duties, 
but he can live in them, and feed on Christ the 
bread of life, the hidden manna, while he is attend- 
ing to them. It is this that sweetens duty and 
makes it delightsome. 

He is also a man of discernment. He can dis- 
tinguish between law and gospel, truth and er- 
ror; between the slavery of sin and Satan, and the 
liberty of the sons of God; between the power of 
darkness in which he was once held, and the 
kingdom of God's dear Son, into which he has 
beeu translated. He can see and feel the differ- 
ence between the demands of the law, and the 
sweet soul-comforting voice of his beloved; be- 
tween the law in his members and the law of his 
mind. Yes, and he can see something of the sta- 
bility of the covenant of grace, with whom it was* 
made, [Christ] and on whose behalf, [The 
Elect] and also their security, from which he 
justly concludes, God can never forego his prom- 
ise, or forfeit his oath. He sees that God is well 
pleased with what Christ has done for his church; 
that law and justice is satisfied; a way is now 
opened to God the Father for poor sinners, and 
that Christ is the way, the only way to God; yea, 
the way, the truth and the life. Here he disco v- 



gO A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

ers that all the attributes of Deity harmonize; sin- 
ners are saved with an everlasting salvation, with- 
out producing a jarring note among them. Again, 
he can discern something of the signs of the timesj 
and from what he sees, is constrained to acknow- 
ledge that there are but few possessors of this 
grace of (rod, (comparatively speaking) among 
the vast multitude of professors of religion; and 
that pride, popularity, and conformity to the 
world, are the most prominent features among 
Christians. He also sees that the fine gold of 
the gospel has become dim, and the church of 
Christ at a low estate; he not only sees and 
believes this to be the case, but he mourns on ac- 
count of it, and the more so as he fears it will be 
worse before it is better. 

But though he believes this to be the case; yet 
he evidently sees, that the commotion now in 
the world and in the church, can never derange or 
jostle out of its place the smallest part of that in- 
comparable gospel scheme, which is the result of 
Infinite wisdom; the adjustment of which, reflects 
such effulgent glory on him who hath done all 
things well. He moreover is taught by reading 
the sacred volume of inspiration, that all the pur- 
poses of God, must and will have their accomplish- 
ment at the times appointed by the Father, and 
not one single vessel of mercy shall ever be dash- 
ed in pieces, or deluged by eternal wrath for the 
want of means to bring him to a right knowledge 
of the truth, and to preserve him unto the end af- 
ter he has known the same. 

Here also he learns, that a man is cut off from 
divine acceptance upon the footing of good works, 
however conscientiously performed; that salvation 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. £1 

is of grace — of pure grace without any mixture of 
works on our part; that the glory' of all may re- 
dound to him who hath "remembered us in our 
low estate, and whose mercy endureth forever. — 
He can contemplate the providence of God with 
pleasure, while he considers that all its parts and 
branches, ebbings and flowings, are under the wise 
controul of him who upholdeth all things by the 
ivord of his power. And notwithstanding every 
opening leaf thereof be marked with wars and tu- 
mults, blood and rapine, foreign invasion and do- 
mestic broils, which seem to threaten destruction 
to the Godly, and total ruin to Zion — yet in his 
eternal mind there is an exact uniformity; and that 
all cannot fail to terminate in the welfare of the 
church and his glory. "For the wrath of man 
shall praise him, and the remainder of wrath shall 
he restrain;" from which the Christian is taught, 
that it is his duty to submit to all the_ vicissitudes 
incident to this mortal state of things; and to ac- 
knowledge God just and right in all his ways. 
This he desires to do, and finds an inward satis- 
faction from his becoming submissive. 

Once more. — A Christian is a bold and perse- 
vering man. The approbation of God, and the 
testimony of a good conscience, make him bold and 
courageous for God, when others are silent or flee 
away. "The wicked flee when no man pursueth; 
but the righteous are as bold as a lion." — Prov. 
xxviii. 1. He is bold for the truth, and will con- 
tend earnestly for it, even when its pretended 
friends are afraid and ashamed to acknowledge 
it. Yea, he will boldly contend for the whole 
truth as far as it is made known to him, and en- 
deavour to set it forth with clearness, while many 






£2 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

of its seeming votaries, mince and mutilate it for 
fear of consequences. This boldness which is 
governed by the scriptures, leads him fearlessly 
to contend, that the atonement made by Christ on 
Calvary's cross, and its application is to all intents 
and purposes of equal extent; and that universal 
atonement, but special in its application* is uni- 
versal nonsense as the word of God abundantlv 
teaches, and which every discerning Christian may 
see. He will persevere in thus boldly standing up 
for the truth; though he should get a bad name 
for so doing, for truth is more dear to him than a 
good name among empty professors. Yes, he will 
persevere unto the end, and at last receive a crown 
of life, for he is a partaker of the divine nature, 
which is unchangeable. Besides, he is declared 
to be biessediffith alt spiritual blessings in Christ 
Jesus, and perseverance must be one of all these 
blessings which are spiritual and secured to him 
in Christ Jesus. But to conclude, he will, in the 
strength promised, endure nnto the end, in the 
face of all opposition, for it is said, "thy shoes 
shall be iron and brass; and as thy days so shall 
thy strength be. — Deut. xxxiii. S5. 

I have thus, my brethren, endeavoured to des- 
cribe the Christian; and, perhaps, you are ready 
to say you often feel very different from the des- 
cription given; and indeed, «o you may, and yet 
be Christians. A Christian is a complex charac- 
ter; and to do him justice, he should be set forth 
as such, which is what I intend to do before I dis- 
miss the subject. But 1 now proceed, 

Secondly. To prove what his right is, and 
vindicate it. 

Inasmuch as God has been pleased, in mercy, 




AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. g$ 

to raisa him. to newness of life, in Christ Jesus, 
and enabled him to wrestle with great wrestling 
for the promised blessing; and he having prevail, 
ed with his God, he has a just right to subscribe 
with his hand unto the Lord, and surname him- 
self by the name of Israel; and should Satan put 
a negative upon it, and try to beat him off, and 
wrest his right from him by suggesting many 
things against so daring an attempt, yet he has a 
right to persist in his holy resolution, since he has 
received a special grant from God to do so; and 
not only so, but if he should be boldly withstood, 
and waylaid by the great seducer of souls, he has 
a right to resist him, and insist on his claim to all 
the privileges and blessings of the spiritual Israel 
of God; and the stronger the opposition is, the 
greater should be his boldness in maintaining his 
right; and the many blessings which belong to him 
as a spiritual Israelite, and an object of God's 
choice. It is not his province to hold a parley 
here with his accuser about his right, nor consult 
flesh and blood, or carnal reason; for it is before 
him, and he should go in and possess the land, and 
return God thanks for the great favour conferred 
on him. If he loiters by the way, and endeavours 
to determine his right, by his own feelings, or 
what Satan may say, his difficulties will perhaps 
swell to a great magnitude. He should, there- 
fore, enter immediately into the gospel rest, which 
is his right, and say in the open face of all his en- 
emies, "I have found him whom my soul loveth." 
As he has a right to subscribe himself a spirit- 
ual Israelite, so he has a right to expect Israel's 
God will own him — will defend him — will sup- 
ply all his wants — will deliver him from his ene- 




24 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

mies both bodily and ghostly 9 and be his exceed- 
ing great reward. On the other hand, he has a 
right, an undoubted right to rest on God — hope in 
him — look to him— seek after him, and rejoice in 
him. 

Being a partaker of divine grace, in favour 
with Godj his sins pardoned, and peace pro. 
claimed; he has an indisputable right to go to a 
throne of grace, and to expect what is there to be 
obtained, viz. Mercy and grace. As then, he 
has a right to come to a throne of grace, so he 
has a right to come boldly and under all circum- 
stances too. Boldly, that is, he hath a right to 
come in all the confidence of faith; to come with 
an expectation of being heard and answered; to 
come as though he was coming to a God full of 
grace and truth; to come believing that God de- 
lighted in his coming; to come without shyness; 
without fear of miscarrying; without doubting, or 
calling in question his heavenly Father's good- 
ness. To come, empty, naked, and bare as he 
is; without expecting to meet with divine regard 
upon the ground of any thing he may have done 
or can do. To come in the name of Jesus the 
only Saviour of sinners; and plead his worth, his 
merit, as the only ground of acceptance with God. 
To come in downright earnest, as if he was deep- 
ly engaged in the business on which he is come, 
and as though he would not take nay as an an- 
swer, or be put off with any thing short of that 
which he is in pursuit of, and though his whole 
heart was wrapped up in it. 

Again — he must come, not only boldly, but un- 
der all circumstances. He may at times be 
much beclouded, benighted, and confused in hie 






AND HIS RIGHT PROVED ANti VINDICATED. 23 



mind, and no small tempest lying upon him, to- 
gether with many fears and doubts pressing hard 
upon his soul, so that he may not be able to see 
things as plainly as he once did. But though 
circumstanced thus, he has still a right to come to 
a throne of grace, there to obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in this time of great need; yea, he 
should come the more frequently, and cry more 
loudly and earnestly. Times of darkness and af. 
fliction should be praying times; and where should 
a benighted, afflicted, and praying soul be found 
but at a throne of grace, which is his right? He 
may also be much put to it by Satan, who may 
try to step up his path, throw many obstacles in 
his way, and labour hard to keep him from his 
right. But the Christian should claim it as his 
privilege, and then come, let Satan say what he 
may against it; and when is there greater need 
for the Christian to maintain his right than wheu 
thus circumstanced? 

Again — he may, at times, contract guilt upon his 
conscience; sin may lie heavy on bis soul, and he 
be sorely oppressed on that account, at which time 
he will find it hard work to do what he has a right 
to do, namely, to come boldly to a throne of grace* 
But though all this be the case, his right is not 
cut off, nor is he prohibited, on God's part, from 
claiming his right, or from coming boldly to a 
throne of grace. Again — God may seem to frown, 
chide, and stand aloof, which indeed is a sore af- 
fliction, and hard to be borne; yet the Christian 
ought not so far to be discouraged as to give up 
his right, as God intends no such thing by it; the 
Christian ought not to draw any such conclusion, 
but still claim his right, and go boldly to a throne 
C 



26 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

of grace> and cry aloud to God, and say, "Why 
standest thou afar off, O God; why hidest thou 
thy face in times of trouble?" This is, indeed, a 
time of trouble, with the Christian, but it is not a 
time for him to despair; for although God some- 
times seems to stand aloof, he never says, "1 have 
taken away thy right, therefore it is in vain for 
thee to come again." When God says so, it will 
be time enough to give up resorting to a throne 
of grace. But until then, he has a right to hear 
what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak 
peace to his people, and to his saints. But again — 
the Christian may not enjoy as much of God at a 
throne of grace as he once did; nor receive such 
direct answers from him as heretofore. Now, this 
is-another circumstance which is very tryingj but 
he is not warranted to give up his right, but still 
to claim it, seeing God has said, "Men ought al- 
ways to pray, and not to faint." He then has a 
right to come boldly to a throne of grace, and say, 
"Will not God avenge his own elect, which cry 
day and night unto him?" 

Again — as the Christian is an heir of promise, 
he has a right to all the promises which are in 
Christ yea, and in him, amen, to the glory of God 
the Father. He may therefore, with confidence, lay 
hold of the promises, and draw from them all that 
divine comfort and consolation which they are so 
eminently calculated to afford. If they speak 
peace, they speak it to him, for they are his by 
right. If they speak of a Saviour, good and kind, 
they speak so to him. for they are his right. If they 
are unconditional, he has a right to take them as 
such, and not mix conditions with them, for they 
are his in the form they are delivered to him. If 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. %? 

they are faithful and true, and are to have their 
accomplishment in the experience of Christians, 
he should receive them as such, for they are his 
right. If they are acceptable words, and words 
that are to be pleaded by the saints of God, he 
should turn unto the Lord, and plead them before 
him, and look for their fulfilment in him, for they 
are his right. If they hold Qut strength to the 
saints of God, sufficient to their day, he should 
embrace them as such, and look for the promised 
strength, for they are his right. If they are breasts 
of consolation to the followers of the Lamb of God, 
then it ishis duty, his high privilege to press them, 
to suck them, to call them his own, for they are 
his right. And if it be so, that the promises of God, 
are the Christian's right, how rich is he, how 
well provided for, how highly honoured, for how 
many great and precious promises has he to call 
his own, and to fly unto in times of temptation 
and distress? 

These promises are all like so many notes, issu- 
ed from the great bank of heaven; they all bear the 
chief Manager's siguature and broad seal. And as 
these notes are his, he has a right in course te 
trade, or do business at this bank. Whenever 
poverty pinches him sorely, and his funds are 
low, he can go and spread his case before the 
managers, and draw for the amount he stands iu 
need of. And indeed it is amazing to what a large 
amount he sometimes draws; but as he has a right 
to do it, it is all taken well, his credit is good, for 
he has a surety in the person of one of the mana- 
gers; therefore the request of his lips is granted 
him. And as he never refunds half what he gets, 
he consequently is, and will be in a long rutv 






28 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

deeply in arrears to the bank, and under the great* 
est obligations to it — yet it is looked over, for tbe 
-managers know very well that the spirit is will- 
ing but the flesh is weak, so they take the will 
for the deed, and are much more out with him for 
not drawing more, than they are for his drawing 
too much; for jit is considered an honour to the 
bank to be drawn largely on by those who have a 
right to do so. Now the Christian knowing all this 
he at times makes very free and opens his mouth 
wide; knowing there is no danger of a failure on 
the part of the bank. Though it is true the bank 
sometimes for a few days, puts off the payment of 
its notes, owing chiefly to the manner in which 
they are presented, for the managers have their 
rules laid down, from which, they do not like to 
deviate, knowing such a procedure would tend to 
breed discord among the claimants and look like 
instability m the bank. Although this is the case, 
the Christian knows that all the promises are good 
and every note will fetch Its real value, sometime 
hereafter. Therefore, as soon as he gets one, off 
he goes to the bank, but frequently owing to the 
awkward manner of his presenting it, he has to 
call again, and in the interval between the time he 
first presents it, until it is accepted and paid, he 
turns it over and over in his mind, looks at it in 
various ways, and frequently consults others upon 
the subject; by some he is advised to let it rest for 
the present as it is; by others he is advised to go 
again and again, to lose no time, nor take any rest 
until he succeeds; this last advice best suiting his 
own views of the subject, he does so, and tries the 
bank, day and night (for the bank is never shut) 
until the thing comes all right at last, and a very 




AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 2yr 

high encomium is passed upon him for his cour- 
age, "0 man! great is thy faith." 

No business is so lucrative as this in which the 
Christian is engaged — naemploy so honourable — 
no trade so permanent — no bank of so long and 
good standing as this — its notes are current in all 
the streets of Zion, and well known by every 
Christian throughout the king's realm. O! how 
highly is the Christian favoured, to have a right to 
all the promises, and a right to plead them before 
the maker and giver of them. 

Again — not only the promises, but Christ Je- 
sus, in whom they all centre, is the Christian's 
right also; Christ and the Christian are one, he is 
Christ's and Christ is his. Thi^ being the case, 
he has a right to cast all his burden on Christ — 
what is his burden? sin; well, he has a right to roll 
his sins upon him. Christ is a rock, on which he 
has a right to build all his hopes of life and eter- 
nal glory. Christ is a shepherd, to whom he has 
a right to fly for shelter and constant supply; spy- 
ing "the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want/* 
Christ is the infallible physician, to him he has a 
right to go with all his wounds, and complicated 
sickness and find a cure. Christ is the gate of 
life, the door of hope, at which he may freely 
knock, enter in, and go in and out and find pas- 
ture. Christ is the spiritual apple tree, under 
whose shadow he has a right to set down, and 
freely feed upon the precious fruit thereof. Christ is 
a king, and he is a king's son, and one of his roy- 
al subjects. As such, he may claim his protection, 
draw near to his sacred person, and feast with 
confidence at his royal table. Christ is spriest, 
even the great high priest; who made full atone* 



30 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

ment for a]l his sins; as such, therefore, he may 
claim him and rejoice in his sacrifice. Christ is a 
prophet, to whom he has a right to apply for di- 
vine instruction; should Satan say (as he is very 
fond of doing) in order to discourage the poor 
Christian — "Thou art a fool, thou art a very sorry 
fellow, and dost not know right from wrong." In 
reply he may say "Christ is my wisdom, and kind 
instructor, my cause must therefore end well." 
Again says Satan, "Thou art a sinner, all pollu- 
ted and defiled.-" The Christian may reply — "I 
know all this Satan; but Christ is my righteous- 
ness and strength, in whom is all my hope." But 
the enemy continues — "Thou art unholy, and in 
no way fit to enter into heaven; for no unholy per- 
son shall enter there and thou canst not make thy- 
self better." "Yes," says the child of grace, "all 
this is true* I know it to be the case, but Christ 
Jesus is my sanctification, and has engaged in 
covenant to purify me unto himself, and at last 
present me before the sacred throne without spot." 
And should Satan persevere and add, "But thou 
art greatly fallen, and sunk very low, thou canst 
not help thyself; God is offended with thee, for 
thou hast broken his law, and trampled his au- 
thority under thy feet, and nothing that thou canst 
do will countervale his damage." The Christian 
in reply, has solid ground to go upon, and may 
«ay, "This is also true, but it is equally true, that 
Christ, who is my right, is a healer of breaches; 
who is also my redemption, as well as my wis- 
donij righteousness and sanctification. I will 
therefore rest upon him, and glory in him." 

Thus, as Christ is his right, he has a right to 
make use of him on all occasions, and to meet Sa- 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 31 

tan's objections by claiming his right to Christ, 
and interest in him, and by so doing, he will honour 
Christ, and he that thus hoooareth Christ, Christ 
will honour also. Moreover, as Christ is his 
right, every communicable blessing, which is in, 
and flows from him, is his right also. Nothing 
that is needful for him shall be withholdt n. If he 
stands in need of continual supplies of grace, it 
shall be granted to him, it being his right. If he 
need the Holy Spirit to guide him into all truth, 
it shall be given him, for he is promised to all 
those who ask for him. If he need the refreshing 
showers of rain from the everlasting hills, to cheer 
Ins fainting soul, they shall in due time, be sent. 
If he need repeated pledges of Christ's love to 
him, in order to his peace and comfort, he shall 
receive them, and that freely too. In short, all 
that Christ has, is his right, and no good thing 
will be withheld from him; hence it is the Chris- 
tian's unbounded duty to serve him cheerfully, to 
love him fervently, to honour him constantly, to 
speak highly of him at all times, and in all places, 
and to recommend him earnestly to all who feel 
their need of a Saviour. 

Christ Jesus is the fountain of all good, and as 
he is the Christian's right, all good things, (it fol- 
lows irresistably) belong to him. Surely then, it 
well becomes the Christian, to give the Saviour 
his whole heart and service; for as he has a right 
to so much, he is in duty bound to refund as much 
as possible. As he freely receives, he should free- 
ly give. As Christ sought and found him, he 
ought to seek and worship Christ As Christ 
suffered greatly for him, he ought willingly to 
suffer for Christ. . As Christ humbled himself for 



32 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

him, he ought to show a readiness to become any 
thing for Christ, and count his right to Christ 
greater honour than the glory of this world. As 
Christ died on the cross for him, he should glory 
in nothing, save the cross of Christ, and to say, 
"The ransom of my life, which is Christ Jesus, 
is my riches, and being made rich by his poverty, 
of my riches I will boast all the day long." 

The gospel, with all its dainties, all its privi- 
leges, yea, the new and everlasting covenant, with 
all it contains, he has a right to; even now and 
forever more. But to proceed : — 

In the next place — as the Christian has a right 
to Christ, the head of the church, and all that is 
in him, and flows from him, so also has he a right 
to the love and affection of all the saints com- 
posing his church. Do the saints love one ano- 
other? Yes, they do; or at least they ought to do 
so, as they are exhorted to it, "See that ye love 
one another with a pure heart fervently." 1 Peter, 
i. 22. And this love is to be without dissimula- 
tion or disguise; hence says Paul, "Let love be 
without dissimulation," Rom. xiii. 9. So also 
should it be durable, or continue, as says the same 
Apostle, "Let brotherly love continue." Heb. xii. 
1. Indeed, love to the brethren, is spoken of as 
a mark of grace; as we read, "we know that we 
have passed from death unto life because we love 
the brethren." 1 John, iii. 14. They are to for- 
bear one another in love, and by love serve one 
another. They are also exhorted to love the 
brotherhood, and to be kindly affectioned one to 
another, with brotherly love; in honour, prefer- 
ring one another, And Christ says, by this shall 
all men know that ye are my disciples if ye have 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 33 

love one to another." — John, xiii. 35. Now to 
this love of the brethren the Christian has a right, 
because he is one of the brethren; and he has a 
right to it at all times, (as long as he gives evi- 
dence of his sonship.) In adversity, when provi- 
dence seems to frown, and God hides his face, he 
has a right to the love and affection of the house- 
hold of faith, and in an especial manner ought it 
to be expressed toward him at this time. Again, 
when labouring under affliction, either of body, 
mind, or in his family, or all together, as is fre- 
quently the case; surely under these circumstances 
the love and esteem of the saints should flow to 
him, and not the least abatement be experienced 
by him, but contrary wise, as Paul says, "And 
the Lord make you to increase and abound in 
love, one to another; and again, wherefore I be- 
seech you, that ye would confirm your love to* 
ward him." — 1 Thess. iii. 12. % Cor. ii. 8. How 
would the poor afflicted saint feel himself aggriev- 
ed were the brethren to withhold from him his 
right? He ought not to be coolly treated, or in 
any degree slighted by the brethren in the day of 
affliction and sorrow; for as his trials are great, he 
stands in great need of a clearer view of his right. 
When in affliction, pity and love, affectionately 
manifested by friends, are like cold water to a 
thirsty person; indeed, he has a right to expect 
them, and they also are in duty bound to con- 
fer them; not in word only, but in deed also. 
Moreover, -the Christian has a right to their com- 
pany and prayers, for they are exhorted to pray 
with and for one another, for which purpose they 
should often meet together, and engage in profita- 
ble conversation; they should solemnly talk of 






34 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

what they know of divine truth; of the love of 
Christ shed abroad in their hearts; of the sweet 
answers they have received to their prayers; of 
what soul refreshing visits they have had from 
Jesus the heavenly lover, and how many unex- 
pected and undeserved pledges of his goodness 
and loving kindness he has graciously favoured 
them with from time to time. What copious 
showers of divine grace he has poured out upon 
them, and what sealing witnesses of the Holy 
Spirit has been afforded them; what gracious de- 
liverances have at times been wrought for them, 
and the snares of Satan broken by their Lord and 
Master; how many doubts and fears banished 
from their minds, and difficulties removed out of 
their way. They should also converse about 
their temptations, acknowledge their weakness 
and shortcomings before God; of their utter un T 
worthiness of his favours; what debtors to amazing 
grace; what great obligations they are under to 
Almighty God for all the goodness, compassion, 
and tender mercy manifested to them in the course 
of their pilgrimage. Such conversation, and such 
company is truly profitable and heart cheering, 
and is what the poor dejected Christian, above 
spoken of, has a right to, nor ought the household 
of faith to deny it him. Christian company, if 
properly managed, far exceeds all other society 
in this unfriendly world; and such company is his 
due; for in such he delights, and they are deserv- 
edly the objects of his warmest love, and well they 
may be, for their interest is one; their final aim 
and object one; they have one father or parent; 
one common stock; members of the same di- 
vine family; all clothed alike; travelling the 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 35 

same road; and have the same heavenly country 
in view; they all sing the same song, with no jar- 
ring note, viz:— "Not unto us, not unto us, Lord,, 
hut unto thy name be all the glory and praise!" 
The Christian, by the enjoyment of his right, of- 
ten gets his mind relieved from embarrassments 
and sore perplexities; Satan's temptations weak- 
ened, and his faith much strengthened, while he 
is encouraged to trust in his gracious God, and. 
go on his way rejoicing. Ought he not then, to 
claim his right, and enjoy it? 

But again — he has also a right to their prayers 
and supplications. 8aints should pray with and 
for^ach other; "bear ye one anothers burdens, and 
so fulfil the law of Christ" If he is under sore 
trouble and grievous temptation, he has a right to 
expect the brethren will bear him on their minds at 
a throne of grace; and thus spread his case before 
the Lord who heareth and answereth prayer. 
Though all the household are not acquainted with 
his difficulties; nor even with him personally, yet 
he has a right to believe that he is remembered by 
them before God; for supplication and thanksgiv- 
ing are daily offered up for all the children of Zi- 
on; so that there is a large stock of prayers put up 
for him from season toj season; and as for those 
who are intimate with him, and know his situa- 
tion; he has solid ground to calculate on their 
Christian sympathy; that they will advise with 
him; pray with him and for him, and do all in 
their power to promote his peace and comfort. In- 
deed what a blessed consideration, and high priv- 
ilege it is, that the Christian can go with his bud- 
get of troubles to the dear saints of Jesus; cast 
them down before them, and unreservedly make 



36 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

known the sorrows of his mind to them, especial- 
ly as he knows they will condole with him, and 
bear a part with him. This reciprocity should 
always take place, for he has a right to demand it 
While on the other hand, they have an equal right 
to confer it; and when done in a proper and be- 
coming spirit, an unspeakable pleasure is the result 
to ali concerned. His trouble is their trouble? his 
sorrow their sorrow; if one member is afflicted, 
the whole body suffers; he is to be borne on their 
sides, and gently dandled on their knees; and his 
case spread before the Lord by them. They strug- 
gle with him; wrestle for him; they labour for him 
to come forth; and watch and wait' for his deliv- 
erance with as much anxiety as if it were their 
own case; and in God's time he will be brought 
through; their praying breath shall not be spent 
in vain; as God inclines their hearts to pray, so 
will he graciously incline his ear to hear. Per. 
haps it is so with him, that his mind is dark, and 
shut up; the good things of the kingdom of God 
taken away from him, while he is labouring under 
amazing fierce temptations, and so left in the 
hands of the enemy, that he is ready almost to des- 
pair of life, and all hope of his being saved, (as 
to sense) quite taken away; and then such an aw- 
ful flood of Atheistical and Deistical thoughts in- 
undate his soul, that, by way of prayer, he can do 
but little for himself. However, he has a right 
to calculate on much aid from those of the saints 
who know the state of his mind; he ought to ex- 
pect that they will intercede for him, and that 
prayer and supplications will be made incessantly 
for him; nor shall the saints go unrewarded for it, 
for whenGod restores comfort unto him, they, (his 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. $7 

mourners) shall participate of his joy. This was 
the way in old times, as it is written, "I have 
seen his ways and will heal him; 1 will lead him 
also, and restore comforts unto him and to his 
mourners." — Isa. Ivii. 18. 

Furthermore — he has not only a right to their 
love and affection; to their company and prayers; 
but he has a right to their aid and assistance in a 
pecuniary sense, should he from adverse provi- 
dence stand in need of it. If he is poor, and in 
indigent circumstances, through bereavements, af- 
flictions, and losses, he has a right to expect they 
will exercise their liberality towards him, it is 
his right, and he should look for it. This was 
the case under the law, and much more should it 
prevail in these gospel times. "If there be among 
you a poor man, of one of thy brethren, within 
any of thy gates in thy land, which the Lord thy 
God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy heart, 
nor shut thy hand from thy poor brother; but thou 
shalt open thy hand wide unto him, and shalt 
surely lend him sufficient for his need in that which 
he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought 
in thy wicked heart, saying, the seventh year, the 
year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil 
against thy poor brother, and thou givest him 
nought, and he cry unto v the Lord against thee ; 
and it be sin unto thee; thou shalt surely give him, 
&nd thine heart shall not be grieved when thou 
givest unto him, because that for this thing the 
Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy work, 
and all that thou putteth thy, hand unto. For 
the poor shall never cease out of the land, there- 
fore I command thee saying, thou shalt open thin* 



38 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to 
thy needy in the land." — Deut. xv. 7. 8-. 9. 10. 11. 
Now we see brethren what was commanded un- 
der the law, and should not this commandment be 
in ftill force now among us? Yes, surely it should; 
as God whom we adore has given it, nor can it be 
evaded by us, and we remain innocent James 
says, "If a brother or sister be naked, and desti- 
tute of daily food, and one of you say unto him. 
depart in peace, be thou warmed and filled, not- 
withstanding ye give him not those things which 
are needful for the body, what doth it profit?" — 
James, ii. 15. 16. And surely the obligation is 
greater on us than on ancient Israel; for theirs was 
only a natural compact, cemented by the ties of 
consanguinity, ours a spiritual one. The moral 
precept which was binding on them, is binding 
on all men indiscriminately as belonging to the 
great family of mankind; but members of a church 
of Jesus Christ are called upon by every sacred 
principle to the discharge of this important, though 
too much neglected duty. This is as clearly the 
poor Christian's right as any thing to which the 
gospel has given him a claim, and the household 
of faith act extremely wrong in withholding it 
from him, for it is easy for many to help one, and 
what is given in this way is only lent unto the 
Lord; and as the saints have freely received of the 
Lord in a way of providence, so should they free- 
ly give, especially as it is his right to whom it is 
given, and the Lord loves a cheerful giver. "The 
liberal soul is to devise liberal things, and by lib- 
eral things he is to stand." — Is a. xxxii. 8. Paul, 
on this subject is bold, and calls the liberalily of 
the saints a grace, thus, "See that ye abound in 







AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 39 

this grace also." — 2 Cor. viii. 7* Now, if this 
be a grace, surely the saints ought to be found in 
the exercise of it, and the Christian should claim 
his right boldly. But, 

He also has a right to a name and a place in the 
house of the Lord, and to a participation of all 
the immunities and privileges -which that house 
affords. Is church-fellowship a blessing? It is; 
well, he lias a right to that blessing. The Lord, 
the great head of the church, has promised to meet 
with his people, when they convene together for 
solemn worship, to revive their souls, cheer their 
drooping spirits, strengthen their faith, and en- 
courage and confirm their hope. "In this moun- 
tain the Lord of hosts hath made a feast of fat 
things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things 
full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined." 
— Isa. xxv. 6. This gospel feast is provided for 
sons, and he is a son; ergo, it is his right. ''Eat, 
O friends, drink, yea dnnk abundantly, O belov- 
ed," is the language of the master of the feast. In 
this mountain the "doctrine of the gospel is to drop 
as the rain, and the speech of the Almighty to dis- 
til as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender 
herb, and as showers upon the grass.'*— Deut, 
xxxii. 2. With this, the saints are to be refresh- 
ed from season to season; and he is a saint, ergo, 
it is his right. The Lord's supper fconsiitutes 
part of the banquet in tins mountain, prepared 
Jesus, the sinner's friend. At this banquet the 
household are often to meet, and be joyful togeth- 
er while they commemorate the death and passion 
of their divine Lord and Master. He is one of the 
household, ergo, it is his right. "Behold how 
good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell 



40 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

together in unity. 55 — Psalm, cxxxiii. 1. He is 
one of the brethren, ergo, he has-a right to dwell 
in this house with them, and partake of the bene- 
fits thereof, which is his rest forever; "and here will 
lie dwell, for he has desired it." — Psalm, cxxxii. 
13. 14. Glorious things are spoken of this house; 
and here the stately steppings of the Lord are 
jseen; his presence sweetly enjoyed; his love ex- 
perienced, and his power felt by all those who have 
a name and a place in it; and a name and a place 
here is his right. The Lord has promised abun- 
dantly to bless the provision of this glorious house, 
this Ziosr, and to feed the poor with bread. "On 
the holy hill of Zion God has set his son." — 
Psalm, ii. 6. And there he is to reign as king. 
A Icing shall reign in righteousness. There he_ 
sways his peaceful sceptre, and makes his little 
hill a blessing; there it was anciently predicted 
the "horn of David should bud," and in it the 
gospel has gloriously and abundantly budded and 
blossomed. "There God commanded the bless- 
ing, even life forever more." — Psalm, cxxxiii. 3. 
And this life and peace are to continue as long as 
the sun; "Peace is to be within her walls, and 
prosperity within her palaces."- — Psalm, cxxii. 7. 
Christ Jesus, agreeably to ancient predictions^ has 
come down by the gracious influences of his pre- 
cious gospel, like "rain upon the mown grass; as 
showers that water the earth;" while the righteous 
have flourished before him, and have stretched out 
their hand unto him; for he is their resting place, 
and to him the gathering of the people was to be, 
and his rest shall be glorious, "Yea, they that 
dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; the 
king of Tarshish, and of the Isles shall bring 




AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 41 

presents; the kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer 
gifts, yea, all kings shall fall down before him; 
all nations shall serve him." — Psalm, lxxii. "The 
captivity of Jacob's tents," also are to be brought 
back, and pitched in this sacred hill, and ^Judab 
shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely." 
And while the household of faith are praising, 
admiring, adoring and worshipping their preci-us 
Redeemer, Captain, King, Lord and Master, he 
will defend them, watch over them, feed them, be 
as a wall of fire round about them, and the glory 
in the midst of them; he will profusely scatter his 
blessings down among them, and "water them 
every moment; and lest any hurt them, he will 
keep them night and day." 

From this little hill shall a law go forth; (it has 
gone forth, and is now going forth) and the word 
of the Lord from this spiritual Jerusalem; and 
thrice -happy are all those who hear, know, and 
obey the joyful sound. The strictest intimacy is 
to be kept up between this glorious king and his 
subjects, and a constant intercourse kept open. 
The Holy Spirit diffuses his gracious influences- 
abroad; and opens up unto them the everlasting, 
unbounded, and unchangeable love of the king; 
his eternal counsels, and the mystery of his cross; 
for his office is to "search all things, yea, the deep 
things of God." Here their wants are to be sup- 
plied according to God's riches in glory by Christ 
Jesus, while they in return, are to bring all their 
revenues to their Almighty King; fall down and 
worship him as the true God; and own him as 
their rightful sovereign. This king extends peace 
to them like a river, and in this river they lave 
and solace themselves; whilst he is unto them a 
d£ 



42 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

place of broad rivers and streams, which streams 
^watereth the ridges of Zion abundantly, settles 
the furrows thereof and make it soft, and cause the 
little hills to rejoice on every side."— Psalm, lxv. 
All these things intimately concern the Christian 
we have been describing; to them he has an un- 
doubted right. 

Once more — as he has a right to the company 
of the saints, to a name and a place in the church 
militant, to all the immunities and privileges there- 
of; so also has he a right to the company of holy 
angels and glorified spirits, and to a name and a 
place in the church triumphant, and to all the 
glory and happiness in reversion at the right hand 
of God, and there finally to be enjoyed. There 
God is enjoyed without the least interruption; 
there a vast eternity will be spent in wonder, lov$ 
and praise, and not the least vestige of sin be found 
throughout all that great dominion! The wicked 
there forever cease from troubling! There the 
once weary saints find, and enjoy perpetual rest! 
There with rapture and delight they behold him 
face to face,, whom they used to view through a 
glass dimly. There in the highest sense of the 
word, is found but one fold and one shefherd; 
there the blood bought throng relate (in the sim- 
plicity of their hearts) to each other, long and 
pleasing stories of God's great mercy, and great 
goodness manifested towards them when in a mil- 
itant state; while they are uplifted with, exceeding 
great joy, to think that what tbey once had in an- 
ticipation is now, through rich unmerited grace en- 
joyed in full fruition, never, no never to end! 
There is seen the very identical person! the once 
fioor despised Nazarene ; who died on the igno- 






AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 43- 

minious tree for sinners! but now the glorious, 
triumphant, matchless and adored Jesus, seated 
at the right hand of his Almighty Father, encir- 
cled with glory ineffable! There the high praises of 
Jehovah are sounded high on every string, while the 
vast expanse of heaven echoes and re-echoes the 
gladsome sound proceeding from the unnumbered 
millions redeemed by th^ blood of the Lamb, from 
every language, kindred, tongue, and nation under 
heaven! Not one jarring note is here to be heard! 
Their joys are one, their sougs are one; and their 
language is so refined as far to exceed any ideas 
that we can form of it in this, our earthly state. 
There African slaves will shine in robes as glo- 
rious, bright, and glittering as kings, and the chil- 
dren of kings! and babes of a span long warble 
forth the praises of God in strains as lofty and 
melodious as the ancient Patriarchs; and those who 
were meanly treated by many while in a militant 
state, shall be rivaled by none. In a word — 
there, in one grand chorus, will the Ancient op 
days be adored, extolled, admired and praised 
through vast eternity! There mysteries am 
unravelled; there redeeming love shines forth in 
all its matchless glory and true lustre! There the 
merits of Christ the Lamb appear in their true 
colours, and are rightly appreciated! There the 
lovely face of him who now and then stands be- 
hind the w all while here below, and sometimes 
shews himself through the lattice, is seen with- 
out a cloud, ov any kind of intervening object! 
There are no sius to deplore in these holy re- 
gions; no short comings to bewail; no tempting 
devil to dread; no snares to fear; no absent God 
to mourn j no cross to carry; no foes to com- 






44 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

bat with; no crying, lo here! and lo there! but all 
is perfect peace and rest, and so shall ever be! 
What thinkest thou of all these things, O Chris- 
tian? This place is thine by right; this happi- 
ness thou hast a good title unto. Fear not, then, the 
many dangers and difficulties which may attend 
thy path; heaven, which is thy right, will make 
amends for all. G! my dear brethren, if you are in- 
deed what you profess to be, what large posses- 
sions are yours; how many great and glorious 
things are yours, and what grounds of encourage- 
ment ought these things to afford you? 8urely 
you should not despair, or sink in your minds, 
but be thankful, humble, watchful, prayerful, 
vigilant, and hope unto the end. The dark glass 
through which you now see, will soon be broken, 
and then you will see eye to eye, and know even 
as you are known, "Be loving, and kindly af- 
fectionate one towards another;" pray often with 
and for one another; "bear one anothers burdens, 
and so fulfil the law of Christ," who fulfilled the 
law for you, loved you, and gave himself for you, 
that you might not perish, but have everlasting 
life. O! be ye joyful together, and come into his 
presence with thanksgiving, and into his courts 
with praise; live as though this world ,was not 
your home, but as if you were hastening to a bet- 
ter country, that is to say, an heavenly; never for- 
get your right; never lose sight of your privi- 
leges; and above all, never forget to own your- 
selves debtors to free and sovereign grace. But 
I proceed to shew, 

Thirdly. — The ground on which the Chris- 
dan's right is founded. And first, negatively. It 
is not founded on any thing in himself, i. e. not on 






AttD HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 45 

any goodness foreseen in him by the Deity, to in- 
duce him to bestow such unbounded grace and 
mercy on him, and to grant him a right to all the 
blessings of the new and everlasting covenant, as 
heretofore described. For he, by nature and prac- 
tice, is a sinner in common with the rest, "A child 
of wrath, even as others." There could, there- 
fore, be nothing inherent in him more than in the 
common mass of mankind, to move the Almighty 
to show favour to him, while others are passed 
by. Neither is his right founded on the idea of 
his being more pliant, or his feelings more tender, 
so as to cause him to be easier wrought upon thau 
others; for when God first chastised him, or cor- 
rected him for his sin and folly, he was "As a 
bullock unaccustomed to the yoke," and would 
fain have fled out of his hand or reach, altogether. 
Neither is it on the ground of any good thing 
done by Mm, either before or after conversion, nor 
on the strength of his faith, though faith is God's 
gift, and the actings of faith are as much the pro- 
ductions of God as the gift is. Faith is fluctuat- 
ing; sometimes weak, and sometimes strong; not 
so his right, for it is always one thing; no created 
power can alter it; it will remain his right forever- 
more. Finally, his right is not founded on any 
worth or worthiness in him, nor on any thing that 
God saw in him, or expected to find in him. But 
positively on the ground of God's loving him with 
an everlasting love, and choosing him in Christ 
his dear Son from all eternity. "I have loved 
thee with an everlasting love, therefore with 
loving kindness have I drawn thee." The suf- 
ferings and death of Christ flow from this source, 
viz. the love of God, and form part of the ground 



46 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

on which his right is founded; out of pure love 
Jesus Christ suffered and died, and those who 
were interested in the everlasting love of God the 
Father, the Son died for. Indeed all the acts of 
Christ, as mediator of the covenant, even to his 
intercession now at the right hand of the Father, 
are included in this foundation; not as so many 
different grounds on which the believer's right is 
founded, but they are as so many constituent parts, 
making in the whole, one solid, ground founda- 
tion or basis; or as so many links in one chain, 
which are so admirably connected, and so -firmly 
united we cannot separate them, and to attempt it, 
would be an insult to the great first cause of all 
things. This, then, is the ground on which the 
Christian's right is founded; and as this founda- 
tion standeth sure, so does his right. Now then, 
as God loved him (and stilt loves him) and out uf 
love, chose him in Christ; and Christ, out of love 
suffered and died for him; rose again for him; and 
now intercedes for him, his pardon is sealed, peace 
proclaimed, and as he sees and knows that there is 
a sure foundation laid for him to build his hope of 
immortality and eternal life upon; well may he ad- 
mire the wisdom of him who has done all things 
well, and be truly thankful for that grace which 
raised him from his low estate, to a comfortable 
hope of an interest in Christ Jesus the Lord. He 
has also a special regard to the work of the Holy 
Spirit; for by him, his mind has been illuminated, 
and the great plan of salvation revealed to him, 
and many of the deep things of God opened up to 
his view. 

O! what a mercy it is that such a firm founda- 
tion is laid for us to build our hopes upon! Heav- 









AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 47 

en and earth shall pass away, and rocks and 
mountains melt, still this foundation shall abide 
sure and firm. It has for its security the oath and 
promise of the Lord God Almighty: therefore, 
should storms of temptation, (more terrible than 
sevenfold thunders) beat furiously and threaten 
destruction, like the lava pouring from Etna and 
Vesuvius during an eruption, still shall it remain 
unshaken! Infidels may rage; impostors ridicule; 
and devils roar against it; yet it will stand; aid 
stand it must, for it was laid by infinite wisdom, 
and is supported by Almighty power! Truly then 
we may triumph, rejoice and say, "God is our re- 
fuge and strength, p. very present help in trouble; 
therefore will not we tear, though the earth be 
removed; and though the mountains be carried 
into the midst of the sea; though the waters there- 
of roar and be troubled, though the mountains 
shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. Psalm. 
xlvi. i. 2. 3. If any have cause to be glad it is 
the Christian, whose hope is in God, and whose 
right is founded on this stable rock; and if any 
can come before God with confidence, it is he; and 
he ought to come in all the confidence of faith, 
with entire dependence on him who hath said, 
"Fear not, I am thy shield and thy exceeding 
great reward/ 5 Gen. xv. 1. But I hasten — 

Fourthly and lastly — to speak particularly 
to the question in our text, "should I lie against 
my right!' 5 It should here be remembered that a 
Christian is a compound of flesh and spirit; of na- 
ture and grace; of a law in his members, and a 
law in his mind. And on that part of the com- 
pound which is purely spiritual or heavenly, the 
Holy Spirit at times operates. sweetly, at which 



48 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

time the Christian subscribes with his hand unte 
the Lord, and cheerfully claims his right, to the 
honour of free grace aud the glory of God; and on 
that part of the compound attached to the old man, 
featan operates powerfully indeed. It is when 
the Christian is uuder this influence he is prone 
to "lie against his right " Thus is it owing to 
his being CQmplex, that he is so inconsistent and 
self contradictory at times. With one of these 
parts, he serves the law of God, and with the other 
the law of sin; with one, he claims his right like 
a Christian; and with the other he t>ften lies 
against it. And if this important and necessary 
distinction is not made, we shall never be able to 
account for his strange conduct and crooked pro- 
ceedings through life. It is true he ought never 
to lie against his right, but owing to that sensual 
part of him, he is found so doing, so that what I 
shall say under this head respecting the Chris- 
tian's lying against his right will no ways clash 
with what was said under our first head of dis- 
course; that related to the part of the Christian 
which is spiritual or heavenly; this to the part 
which is sensual. 

In attending to this last general head, I shall ob- 
serve three things. 

First — What it is for a Christian to lie against 
his right 

Second — Why he should not do so. 

Third — Wherein he does do it. 

First — When he gives way to his doubts and 
fears, and yields to unbelief, which his mind is 
sometimes full of, so that he refuses to subscribe 
with his hand unto the Lord* and surname him. 
self by the name of Israel; whereas he ought to 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 



49 



do it, seeing his right stands on so good a foun- 
dation; this is lying against his right. If, from a 
deep sense of his own un worthiness, and from 
feeling much of the corruptions of his heart, and 
the dreadful pollution of his nature, he neglects 
to lay hold on the promises of God, which are un- 
conditional, and all, yea, and amen in Christ Je- 
sus, but puts them away, as having no claim on 
tnem; he lies against his right If he keeps away 
from a throne of grace unde* any pretext what- 
ever, he lies against his right. 

Again — if he does not venture his soul on the 
Lord Jesus Christ, but stands aloof from him, and 
tries to shun him, or skulk out of his sight, as 
though he had no interest in him, he lies against 
his right. If he imagines he has no place in 
the affection of the brotherhood, no interest in 
their prayers, no right to their company, or to a 
seat in the house of God, and that he shall be 
shut out of heaven at last, and bp banished to hell, 
there to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire, be- 
cause he is not an elect vessel of mercy, because 
he is not beloved of God, was not chosen in 
Christ from everlasting, because Christ did not 
die for him, rise again for him, and does not now 
intercede for him; if he imagines these things, and 
gives way to the wicked insinuations of Satan in 
this manner, he grievously lies against his right 

But, in the second place, why he ought not to do 
so. He ought not, for by so doing he sins against 
God, and wrongs his own soul. It is his duty to 
go to the Lord with his burden, his grief, and 
distress; let them be what they may, upon the 
strength of what the Lord has said, "Come unto 
me ail ye that labour, and are heavy laden, and I 
E 






50 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

will give you rest." But if he refuses to do so, and 
thus slights the invitation given, and sets light on 
what is said to him by him who cannot lie, he 
sins against God, and wrongs his own soul. God 
has erected a throne of grace to hear when sinners 
cry, and has promised to meet them there, to hless 
them, and do them good; and if he keeps away 
out of fear that he shall not be heard, or obtain 
the blessing promised; he pours contempt on what 
the Lord has done; this he ought not to do — should 
he lie against his right? 

If he confers with flesh and blood, consults 
carnal reason, and harkens to the suggestions of 
Satan, instead of the voice of God, and giving full 
credit to what he, in his holy word has said, in 
matters of soul concern, he sins against God, and 
wrongs himself. 

God is not only glorified and honoured, but 
great peace and comfort are obtained by the 
Christian when be claims his right, and attends to 
the many privileges conferred on him by the Lord 
of hosts; whereas, if these things are neglected 
and looked over, he sins against God, and wrongs 
his own soul, which he ought not to do — should he 
lie against his right? If "God has given unto 
us great and precious promises, that by them we 
might be partakers of the divine nature," and yet 
he rejects them from a pretence that they are not 
for him, he is not Worthy of themu he is too great a 
sinner, &c. &c. This is wrong; it is unwanan- 
table conduct, dishonouring to God and his word. 

If God has given unto us all things that per- 
tain to life and godliness, so that all things are 
ours, whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas > or the 
world, or life, or death, or things present, or 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 51 

things to come, all are ours;" and yet he, through 
the power of unbelief, fancies himself destitute of 
all these things, and quite shut out from divine 
regard, he sins against God, and wrongs his own 
soul. Bat he ought not so to do — should he lie 
against his right? 

If our safe arrival in. heaven is secured by the 
oath and promise of the Lord, yet he concludes he 
shall perish forever, he sins against God; but he 
ought not so to do — should he lie against his right? 
If the children of Israel, after they were brought 
by the Lord of hosts into the Land of Promise, 
had thought, or said they were not brought there, 
merely because the Canaanites dwelt among them, 
they, by so doing, would certainly have dishon- 
oured God, and wronged themselves. And so 
would the Christian, while in this world of shi 
and sorrow, if he should think he is not a parta- 
ker of the grace of God, nor has any share in the 
privileges of the gospel dispensation, which, in 
part, was shadowed out by the land of Canaan. 
Again — if he gives up his privileges, and neglects 
those duties which are incumbent on him, under 
an idea that to attend to them would be presump- 
tuous and arrogant; for if they did belong to him, 
and he had a just claim on them, his feelings 
would be different from what they are, his love to 
God greater, his faith stronger, his heart softer, 
his mind more spiritual, his corruptions weaker, 
and his foes fewer, &c. he sins against God, and 
wrongs his own sou!; but he ought not so to do™ 
should he lie against his right? 

Rut there are other reasons why he ought not 
to lie against his right. It is underrating that 
which God would have him prize highly. The 






5i A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

blessed Lord has seen fit to set a high estimation on 
the right conferred on him, a poor unworthy crea- 
ture; and by rating it lower than the doner has 
thought proper to do, he sins against God and 
wrongs his own soul. Again it is setting a bad 
example before the household of faith, and often 
proves a matter of discouragement to the weak 
among thetn. 

.When they see him persisting in lying against 
what they believe to be his right; their minds are 
hurt; they are grieved exceedingly, for they know 
that God thereby is dishonoured; he, therefore, 
ought not so to do — should he lie against his 
right? By living and acting in this way, he 
becomes worldly and carnally minded, and the 
less tender in his conscience as to what he says 
or does, and hence he will be apt to speak un- 
advisedly with his tongue, which will cause the 
enemies of the cross to pour the greater contempt 
on the good things and ways of the Lord, and in- 
duce them to think and say, there is nothing real 
in religion. Hence they cry, "Behold! here is a 
man who once made a flaming profession of religion; 
but now we can see little or no difference between 
him and ourselves." Surely he ought to guard 
against these things and not give the enemy cause 
to say "Aha! thus would we have it/ 5 But far- 
ther, it is very hurtful to young Christians, partic- 
ularly to such whose eyes have just been openei 
to see their danger, and are seeking the right way, 
or enquiring how they shall be saved. Now, if 
such should see one whom they supposed to be 
strong in the faith giving glory to God, live and 
act as though he had no faith, as though there was 
nothing in the religion of the blessed Jesus to be 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 53 

depended on: nothing to support a soul in the hour 
of distress and trouble; O! how it would weaken 
their hands and distress their souls; for they are 
generally like lambs, timid, shy and fearful. 
This sight therefore, aggravates in a measure all 
their distresses, and creates fresh doubts and fears. 
This being the case, he ought not so to do — 
"Should he lie against his right!" 

Thirdly- — Although the Christian by lying 
against his right, sins against God, sets a bad ex- 
ample before the household of faith, causes the en- 
emies of the cross to speak reproachfully of the 
good ways of God, weakens the hands of young 
converts, and wrongs his own soul; yet, sad to tell, 
he is often found guilty of this capital offence, 
which is what we have now to attend to. 

The Christian then instead of subscribing with 
his hand unto the Lord, as he ought to do, it being 
his right, is often writing better things against 
himself. Thus, "I shall go to the gates of the 
grave. I am deprived of the residue of my 
years* I shall not see the Lord, even the Lord 
in the land of the living. My age is departed, and 
is removed from me as a shepherd's tent: I have 
cut off like a weaver my life: he will cut me off 
with pining sickness: from day even to night wilt 
thou make an end of me?" Isa. xxviii. 1. 2, 3. 
This hasty conclusion is drawn in the midst of a 
violent storm, which ruffles his mind and makes 
him almost frantic; and while he is proceeding 
without the light of the sun, and with no small 
tempest beating on him, he says many perverse 
things, which increases his distress. This terri- 
ble blast sweeps away his former confidence in, 
God, and he is left like a sparrow alone upon the 









§4 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

house top, while he stands astonished at bis situa- 
tion, and trembles at his fate. During this trem- 
bling; fit, he speaks unadvisedly, for he says "He 
has fenced up my way that I cannot pass, and he 
hath set darkness in my path. He hath stripped 
me of my glory, and taken the crown from my 
head. He hath destroyed me on every side, and 
I am gone, and my hope hath he removed like a 
tree. He hath also kindled his wrath against me, 
and counted me unto him as one of his enemies. 
Job. xix. 8 — 11. 

Now, although his situation is truly doleful, 
yet he is wrong in drawing such conclusions, 
since blessed mornings of deliverance commonly 
succeed long and dark nights of trouble; and no 
case on this side of hell is so deplorable but what 
God's mercy can relieve from it. In this hurri- 
cane he is tempted to believe his condition is sin- 
gular, and peculiar to rebels against God, for un- 
to such as fear and love him, Christ is said to be 
a "hiding place from the wind, and a covert from 
the tempest;" whereas he is exposed to the tem- 
pest from morn until night, and all hope of his be- 
ing saved seems to be taken away. Look which 
way he may all is gloomy, while the storm ap- 
pears to thicken, and threaten to dash him to 
pieces, every moment, like a potter's vessel; and 
he is so tossed to and fro by the billows, that he 
can no more "subscribe with his hand unto the 
Lord, and surname himself by the name of Is- 
rael," than he can cause the storm to cease; the 
most he can do is to lie against his right, and at 
this he is quite expert; the Lord, however, who 
rides upon the storm, and manages all things well, 
and Who is better to him than all his fears, causes, 






AND HIS BIGHT PROVED A\ T D VIVDICATED. 55 



in his own good time, tue storm to cease, and 
brins> hi to a quiet resting place, where he finds 
himself safe, ami he is constrained to cry out, '•The 
Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble." 
— Naham, i. 7 And indeed, as long as his 
right is within reach of sense and feeling, all is 
well with him. But if God, for wise purposes, or 
ends, best known to himself, is pleased to open 
to his view some of the great abominations of his 
heart, and depth- of iniquity there, and bring him 
to know more of himself, and the treachery of his 
heart, O! how is he appalled, and put to it* He 
begins to lo^e sight of his right. He finds it hard 
work to come boldly to a throne of grace; or, in- 
deed, to come at all. If he confesses his sins to 
God 5 he is overpowered by new discoveries of 
others, which arise to his view In fact, the 
plague of his heart runs so high, his sins appear 
so foul and black, that a query presents itself, 
"can it be possible that I ever was renewed in the 
spirit of my mind; ever a subject of divine grace; 
a partaker of the divine nature, restored to the fa- 
vour of God, or the object of his love? If it were 
the case, should I feel as I now feel? 55 He is bur- 
dened with sin, bowed down with its weight, and 
is sickened at tlve very sight of his situation. In- 
stead of being holy, as those must needs be in 
whom a principle of holiness is planted; he is un- 
holy and all defiled with sin. Instead of being 
happy, he is wretched. Instead of being engaged 
in the solemn exercise of prayer, his confusion and 
trouble are so great, he is afraid to look up. In- 
stead of fellowship with Jesus, he is tormented 
with sin and Satan. Instead of triumphing over 
Satan and his own corruptions, in the strength and 






55 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

name of the Lore! of hosts, they are triumphing 
over him. Thus by reasoning in this way, judg- 
ing by his own feelings and consulting with flesh 
and blood, he is almost ready to conclude he is 
not the person he once thought and hoped he was, 
and therefore cannot have any jnst right to the 
privileges of the saints; and although he is better 
informed than to expect perfection in this life, so as 
to be entirely free from sin and out of the reach of 
Satan's temptations, or that the saints of God are 
not exercised thus, yet it is amazing to think how 
he is foiled when his faith and his religion are 
brought to the test. His better judgment in a try- 
ing day, when the iniquity of his heels c< mpass- 
eth him about, and Satan closely besieges him, be- 
comes a mere wreck, and he is as unstable as wa- 
ter. He labours hard to resist Satan, and sup- 
press the rising corruptions of bis heart, but all in 
vain! Alas! they are stronger than he is; under 
them he falls, and then "lies against his right/* 
which serves to strengthen the evils of his heart, 
and accord with the wishes of Satan: while he 
strives against sin and Satan, but strives in vain! 
his mind at times is filled with rebellion, and most 
blasphemous thoughts arise, so that he is almost 
ready to curse God and die. He would now be 
glad to change situations with the weakest of the 
saints of Jesus, who is enjoying peace in believing, 
or indeed with any one who is not tormented as 
he is. He is ready to conclude that his situation 
is worse now than it was before he made any pro- 
fession of religion. O! how unhappy is he in his 
mind; and so he will continue to be, until God 
comes and undoes all that affiicls him. But great 
axtd many are his fears that this will never take 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 57 

place, for it seems to him to be almost impossible 
for such disorder to be corrected, and his soul 
again to enjoy peace and rest. But I proceed, 

While the Christian is thus distressed — with 
his sins, linked like a chain to his soul, his ini- 
quities arranged in view before him, and Satan 
closely pursuing him, injecting vile and blasphe- 
mous thoughts into his mind, and trying to sink 
him in despair, he, poor. thing, "measures himself 
by himself," and judges of his eternal state by 
what he feels, instead of looking to him who saves 
to the uttermost, and whose blood cleanses from 
all sin. He would, however, at times fain ven- 
ture himself on Christ, but his fears, and a wick, 
ed heart of unbelief drive him away. He tries 
sometimes to lay hold on the promises, but he is 
so enfeebled by a continual sight and sense of his 
sins, that his hand trembles so much, be cannot 
touch them. At his weakness Satan rejoices, and 
presents many pleasing baits in order wholly to 
seduce him from the right way; and it is surpris- 
ing to think what access he has to his heart. But 
what is pleasing to tell, and mortifying to the ene- 
my, be finds that in the Christian's mind there is a 
great struggle, a kind of conflict; there is some- 
thing that seems at all times to adhere to Christ 
and his atonement, to the promises, and him who 
made them; and this part of the Christian turns a 
deaf ear to what Satan says; nay, is proof against 
seduction; it is all for God, for Christ, for grace 
and mercy, and for heaven at last. Satan finding 
this to be the case, roars like a lion, and would 
give all this world, which he calls his own, if it 
were not so, for with this part of the Christian he 
can do but little. The part on which he can act 



53 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

is that which is most like himself. Thus he may 
worry hiin, annoy him, help forward his calami- 
ties, and get him to lie against his right; hut he 
cannot, with all his cunning, destroy him, for his 
"life is hid with Christ in God," and in God's 
time he shall come out of this furnace also; for all 
that is intended by this trial is to show him what 
is in his heart, and what little cause he has to trust 
it, and also what great need there is for him to 
look to, and depend on him who is able to deliv- 
er from the greatest danger. And sure 1 am he 
will gain much by trading in these deep waters 
for when he is brought through he will much more 
prize the hand that sustained him when ready to 
sink, than if he had never been in circumstances 
to need such marvellous aid. Though he, to his 
own hurt, and to the dishonour of God, lied 
against his right when in trouble; yet when de- 
livered, he will prize it higher than ever. O! 
what a beauty does he now see in Jesus Christ, 
what sweetness in a throne of grace, how delicious 
the promises, how comforting and reviving the so- 
ciety of the saints, how he values a place in the 
house of God, and with what divine rapture does 
he anticipate the joys of the world to come! 

But again — perhaps the next calamity which 
overtakes him will be sloth and coldness. 
This state of mind, it may be* steals upon him un- 
awares, and he becomes quite torpid and supine 
before he knows that there is any thing the 
matter with him. Now, generally speaking, this 
condition of soul is attended with much lying 
against ones right, and is the most dangerous 
state for the Christian to be in. — Hence says the 
poet: — 






AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 59 

« 'Tis more the treacherous calm I dread, 
Than tempest bursting o'er my head." 

After he has been delivered from the danger he 
feared and dreaded from a fresh view of the evils 
of his heart, his strength is considerably renewed, 
and his confidence in his God increased, so that 
none d re to make him afraid. On Christ he 
builds his hope; of him he makes his boast, and in 
him he rejoices all the day long, with joy unspeak- 
able and full of glory. The enemy sees h*s sit- 
uation, for he is always on the alert, watches his 
opportunity, and gradually, and under cover 
makes his approach unto him, so that he is not per- 
ceived by the unsuspicious Christian. The ob- 
ject of tiiis subtle assailant is to bring him into a 
state of lethargy and then make him his prey. 
Christ saith, **The thief cometh nut but to steal, 
and to kill and to destroy/' John, x. 10. And so 
here, the design of this assailant is to steal away 
his heart from Christ, to mar his comforts, to 
weaken his confidence in God, to raise doubts and 
fears in his mind, to get him to ''lie against his 
right," and fret against his Lord and Master. As 
he is particularly opposed to prayer, and seeing 
the Christian closely engaged in this exercise, and 
well knowing that nothing to purpose can be done 
by him while this is the case, he endeavours to 
weaken his hands, and cause him to relax in this 
his privilege, by telling him, that it is not neces- 
sary for him now to be engaged at a throne of grace 
so often as heretofore, as he is now in possession 
of the comfort he was seeking after. Or, on the 
other hand, he suggests the idea of his making a 
Saviour of this duty to the neglect of Christ. Or 
erhaps, while the Christian is in the act of prayer 



60 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

lie presents various objects of a carnal nature be- 
fore him, sometimes such as are very pleasing to 
flesh and blood, and well calculated to charm his 
heart, and enveigle his affections; at other times, 
such as are of a diabolical nature, and well adapt- 
ed to confuse his mind, derange his thoughts, 
and damp his zeal; and if by any of these plans I e 
gains his point, the throne of grace, which to hi in 
was delightsome, will gradually be neglected, 
and wear a gloomy aspect; prayer also become 
burdensome, until it is finally neglected, and com. 
muuion with God declines with it, while his heart 
becomes cold, his affections greatly withdrawn 
from God, and inattention to all religious exercises 
ensues. Soon, however, the poor Christian 
finds something is wrong, that it is not with 
him as in months past, he labours now to collect 
his scattered thoughts, to buckle on his armour, 
make an assault on the assailant, and retrieve his 
lost comfort; his enemy, aware of his intentions, 
prepares for an attack, and is ready to give him 
battle at a moment's warning; and indeed, before 
the Christian is ready, the arch fiend discharges 
from his artillery a most destructive volley of hard 
thoughts against God, which so weakens his faith, 
and damps his courage, that he secretly cries out, 
"My strength and my hope are perished from the 
Lord." — Lam. iii. 18. But recovering himself a 
little, he again iries to pray, but his mind is so 
dark and confused he cannot arrange his thoughts, 
and he finds but little or no comfort in the exer- 
cise. By this time, a long train of calamities are 
brought upon him, such as, no warm affections 
going out after God as he once had; little or no 
love to the household of faith; no pleasure in at- 









AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. e>I 



tending to the means of grace; no relish for the 
precious promises; no desire for prayer; no delight 
in reading the scriptures, the word of truth; no 
wish to enter into spiritual conversation; but all 
is dark, dreary, waste, desolate and wild. In this 
gloomy situation he looks around him, and seeing 
no prospect of things being better, he begins to 
conclude in his mind he may as well give up all, 
for he has no right to the Christian namtf$ no right 
to subscribe with his hand unto the Lord; no right 
to the throne of grace; no right to the promises; 
no right to Christ; no right to the love and fellow- 
ship of the saints; no right to an interest in their 
prayers, or their liberality; no right to a name and 
a place in the house of God; and consequently, no 
right to the New Jerusalem above., Thus does 
he in good earnest, lie against his right} and this 
is what Satan wished to get him at. 

He is now in a bad plight indeed, his singing 
days are over, his harp is hung upon the willow, 
and he looks back with regret on the happy days 
and months which are gone; he goes to the house 
of God, but returns empty; he goes to a throne of 
grace, but comes away with his countenance sad; 
he reads the Bible, but alas! all is dark, and the 
word on which he was once enabled to hope is for- 
gotten by him; he struggles hard to come forth, 
but all in vain; he endeavours to draw comfort 
from past experience, but his unsanctified memory 
fails him; he therefore draws the same conclu* 
sion as before, viz. — That he is no Christian, nor 
has any right to the privileges of a Christian. In 
this way he goes on for some time, at length a 
lethargic spirit gets fast h* Id of him, and he be- 
comes indifferent about his state, or how things go 






02 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

with him. His affections, which before were live- 
ly and strong, and flowed out freely toward the 
divine Redeemer, are now cold, inactive, and al- 
most dead. Indeed, as the Holy Spirit has with- 
drawn his benign influences, the poor Christian's 
faith, hope, love and zeal, with every other grace, 
loudly proclaim a dreary winter at hand. That 
which before to him appeared lovely and pleas- 
ant, and *to which he attended with pleasure and 
delight, have now no charms for him; for the gloom 
of winter seems to have swallowed up the beauty 
of the past summer! And while going on in this 
wretched way, he is miserable beyond description. 
Yet he has no heart earnestly to beseech the Al- 
mighty to turn again his captivity, for his strength 
is devoured by the blast of winter; and it may be 
said of him as it was said of Ephraim and Israel, 
"Strangers have devoured his strength and he 
knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there 
upon him, yet he knoweth it not: and the pride of 
Israel testifieth to his face, and they do not return 
unto the Lord their God, nor seek him for all this." 
Hos. vii. 9. 10. This is truly a wretched state to 
be in, for the ways of God are now irksome unto 
him instead of being pleasant; and he is ready to 
say at times, "It is vain to serve God, and what 
profit is it, that I keep his ordinances, and that I 
have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts." 
Mal. iii. 14. Now this is basely lying against 
his right, which he ought not to do, seeing that the 
change in his condition or state of mind, cannot 
effect his right, or alter in the smallest degree the 
foundation on which it rests. I therefore consid- 
er myself warranted from scripture, to vindicate 
it, even while he, through the power of unbsjief, 
is lying against it. * 






AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 63" 

But again, there is at times, a struggle in his 
mind, which proves that the graces of the % Holy 
Spirit in his soul are not extinct, though ata low 
ebb, and very feeble. He makes some effort to 
come forth from his confinement and claim his 
right; but through the power of his enemy, he 
cannot accomplish his object. The enemy now 
stirs him up to envy the happiness of other Chris- 
tians, and thence rebel against (rod, so that he 
frets and murmurs against the dealings of the Lord 
towards him, and in him is fulfilled this saying. 
"The foolishness of man perverteth his way, and 
his heart fretteth against the Lord." Prov.xix. 3. 
Jealously is said to be as cruel as the grave; and 
while the Christian is viewing the happiness of 
others, and mourning over his own wretched con- 
dition, he realizes the truth of it, and is as unhap- 
py in his mind as he well can be, and in this state 
he will remain until God is pleased, either by 
judgments or mercies, to rouse him from it, and 
again bring htm to his right mind. Until this be 
the case, he will lie against his right, in opposi- 
tion to all we can say or do by way of vindica* 
ting it 

Thus, my beloved, have I attended to the four 
propositions laid down at the beginning of this 
discourse; and from what has been advanced, you 
may see what sort of a creature a Christian is, 
when set forth in his complex character. But 
alas! how few among the great crowd of profess- 
ing Christians are there in this day who know any 
thing about what I have now delivered unto you. 
But 1 fondly hope* and trust you know something 
of it; and may I not confidently hope the few re- 
marks made may prove in season to you all? 






(34 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

Remember, my beloved, we are in an enemy's 
country at present, which urges the necessity of 
our being constantly on our watch tower, lest Sa- 
tan get the advantage over us ? so far as to cause 
us to lie against our right. It is true, we cannot 
keep ourselves; but we ought to wait upon him 
who is able to keep us, and who will be with us 
in six troubles, and in the seventh not forsake us. 

The world is very ensnaring, my brethren, and 
we see many who once made a profession of relig- 
ion, ensnared by it, and carried away by its be- 
witching charms. It is, therefore, needful for us 
to watch. ' Satan also is sly, and very crafty; 
ever ready to seduce our souls, and debauch our 
minds; and not a few amongst us have been car- 
ried off by his seductions, and, for a time, been 
mournfully situated. It becomes us, therefore, to 
watch. Our hearts too, are deceitful, and not to 
be trusted in; and yet we find the most of us are 
foolish enough to do so, though it is said, "He 
that trusteth in his own heart is a fool." Against 
this evil we should therefore watch. 

We have great need also to watch and pray 
against the spirit of the times, for there are many 
false spirits out in the world, and they all assume 
a religious garb, and in this way thousands among 
us are deceived. The cry sounding daily in our 
ears is, "In order to become respectable, popular 
and prosperous in religion, we must, in outward 
things, be like other nations, for if we do not cut 
a figure in this polite age we shall be despised, 
ridiculed, and pointed at by the genteel part of 
the community; as was the case with Christ and 
his apostles. We must, therefore, endeavour to 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VTNDI6ATED. 55 

wipe off the reproach, in order to induce men. to 
come among us, that their souls may be convert- 
ed.» 

Thus, my beloved brethren, the simplicity of 
the gospel, and plain truth, are eclipsed by the 
dark cloud of pride and popularity, which has 
gathered thick around us. If not wholly eclipsed, it 
has become but a secondary consideration. Popu- 
larity leads the van, and truth mangled brings up 
the rear, or is adverted to for a cloak to screen 
from the glare of day, a false spirit. Is there 
not, therefore, great cause for us to keep a double 
watch against this infernal delusion? It is an 
awful time in which we live, and a future day will 
make it manifest, "For from the prophets of Jeru- 
salem is profaneness gone forth into all the land, 
they speak a vision of their own hearts," when 
they tell us of such fine things, of so much good 
done, arid of Zion's being in such a prosperous 
state. From all the observations which I have 
made, I am convinced to the contrary, It is in- 
deed a melancholy truth, that Zion is now under 
a cloud, and things are not with her as they are 
generally represented to us. There is, indeed, a 
great tumult in the world, as Ahimaaz said, on 
another occasion, "But there are but few that know 
what it mean." — 2 Sam. xviii 29. 

Krroneous men are said, by the apostle Paul, 
to "lie in wait to deceive." 

Lie in wait Watching an opportunity to poi- 
son the minds of men by their false doctrine, and 
to subvert the gospel of Christ. 

Lie in wait. Seeking a proper time to come 
forth upon unstable souls; to appear in disguise, 
and with fair pretences to flatter, inveigle and be- 
f2 



66 A CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

witch the sons of men; to speak ambiguously, or 
to say one thing and mead another, and deal out 
falsehood as they think will best suit the persons 
they address, or as their minds will bear it. They 
will be careful at the first on-set, to keep bark the 
more grosser part of their errours, until they have 
prepared their minds by things more refined and 
less suspicious; and as soon as things are in a state 
of readiness, these deceivers, these liers in am- 
bush, come forth openly, and make manifest to 
the children of light that they are not of God, but 
"Deceivers, false apostles, evil workers, men of 
corrupt minds, &c." 

Now, as Paul calls truth sound doctrine, good 
doctrine, doctrine of God, doctrine of Christ, and 
doctrine according to godliness, &c. so on the 
other hand, he calls error doctrine of men, doc- 
trine of devils, and strange doctrines. And 

when he speaks of various errors, this is his mode 
of expression, "That we henceforth be no more 
children, tossed to and fro and carried about with 
every wind of doctrine;" so that we see Paul 
displays as much divine wisdom in giving suita- 
ble names to true and false doctrines as Adam 
did in giving proper names to all the living crea- 
tures which God brought to him when in the gar- 
den of Eden. 

As the above deceivers are said to lie in wait, 
so the doctrine they design to disseminate, as soon 
as opportunity offers, is called wind, which is a 
borrowed figure, and fitly sets forth false doctrine. 

First. Wind is liable to change, and to blow 
from different directions; nor can we with all our 
wit tell from whence it will come next. 

And so it is with error; it assumes different 
shapes and forms; sometimes it appears very plau- 



AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. Q7 

sible ami specious; at another time more abstruse 
and mysterious. It also comes frequently from a 
quarter we little expected, and comes with great 
violence, so that men are tossed to and fro with it. 
And as all winds come from the heavens so all 
errors and false doctrines come from the devil, who 
is said to be the prince and p>wer of the air; and 
it is this air, or false doctrine, that infatuates 
and poisons the minds of men. 

Secondly. Wind cannot be seen; so error is 
not seen, nor known fo be so baneful as it is, by 
men who are blind and carnal, sold under sin; and 
hence it is they are so liable to be imposed on by 
men who lie in wait to deceive. And the Chris- 
tian, for the want of clearer light, is often misled 
by these Hers in wait, but he shall be reclaimed, 
because he belongs to the household of faith, 
as we read, "They also that erred in spirit shall 
come to understanding, and they that murmured 
shall learn doctrine." — IsA. xxix. S4. But of the 
rest, at least many of them, it is thus written, 
"And many among them shall stumble, and fall, 
and be broken, and be snared, and be taken." — 
Isa. viii. 15. 

Thirdly. Wind is irresistible; men cannot 
stop its progress, or turn it from its course. And 
so error; men, of themselves, cannot stem its tor- 
rent. When error comes in, as it often does, like 
a flood, it requires a (rod to lift up a standard 
against it, so as to arrest it in its course. Men 
who think their judgments proof against error, 
little imagine how powerful its influence is. 

Fourthly Wind tosses things about, and 
turns them topsy turvy; and men by error are toss- 
ed and turned in like manner: turned from truth, 






68 - & CHRISTIAN DESCRIBED, 

turned from God, turned topsy turvy, tossed to 
and fro, so that at last they call darkness light, and 
light darkness; and put bitter for sweet, and 
sweet for bitter, They are also said to be be- 
witched, made drunk, and to "run greedily after 
the error of Balaam." 

Fifthly. Wind is very searching and pene- 
trating; it enters where nothing else can. And so 
error; it will, and does search and try the chil- 
dren of God, and proves often who are on the 
Lord's side, and who are not; hence it is said, 
"There must be also heresies among you, that 
they which are approved may be made manifest." 
And this we often see verified. Error also will 
find its way, and gain admittance where truth 
dares not come. Error gets rooted in the heart 
while truth is shut out with disdain. Men will 
look upon error, and be pleased with its appear- 
ance, while they shi,it their eyes, ears, hearts, 
pockets and doors against truth, by which we are 
made free. Men love darkness rather than light; 
error rather than truth; a false Christ rather than 
the true God. So it was in the beginning, so it 
is now, and so it will be, till God makes a change 
for the better, which the Lord grant may be the 
case soon. 

Sixthly. Wind often does much mischief, 
and makes great devastation in the land. And so 
error; it does much mischief both abroad and at 
home, it disquiets men's minds, distracts churches; 
breaks the inward peace of the Christian; drives 
men wild and mad; they are mad upon their idols 
we are told. It makes great destruction also; men 
are destroyed by error, both body and soul. And 
bow many tall, flourishing, zealous and flaming 






AND HIS RIGHT PROVED AND VINDICATED. 69 

professors have been brought down and destroyed 
by this wind of error; and this wind is now blow- 
ing very vehemently from many quarters. 

Men, wicked men, ungodly men, erroneous 
men, men of corrupt minds are in this our day, iu 
this our country, in this our state, and in this our 
city, lying in wait to deceive; so that we be- 
loved stand in need of Paul's dehortation; it is 
quite seasonable, and we should do well were we 
to take heed thereunto. 

Beloved, we live in an evil day, a day of great 
declension, a great, falling away from the truth 
and simplicity of the gospel. Men are lovers of 
themselves, heady, high minded, lovers of pleas- 
ure more than lovers of God and truth. We have 
but few men among us, yea, so few that a "child 
may write them." Isa. x. 19. that are valiant for 
truth. We have another gospel introduced 
amongst us, which is not another, as Paul says, 
but there be some that trouble us, and would per- 
vert the gospel of Christ. 

There are great divisions also among many, of 
whom we would wish better things; and this ought 
to cause great searchings of heart among ourselves, 
lest a perverse spirit should mingle itself with us 
and some be carried away after the error of Ba- 
laam. 

Beloved I hope you will ever manifest a warm 
attachment to truth and adorn the doctrine of your 
God and Saviour in all things. 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abun- 
dantly above all that we ask or think, according 
to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory 
in the church by Christ Jesus, throughout all 
ages, world without end* — Amen. 





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